Birkbeck, University of London

University

Psychodynamic Practice

The Graduate Certificate in Psychodynamic Practice will teach you the basic elements of the psychoanalytic method and will equip you with the necessary skills of self-awareness and emotional sensibility that you need to go on to pursue clinical training a counsellor or psychotherapist. The programme is a preliminary course for those who have a first degree, or equivalent, in psychology, who wish to embark on clinical training in psychodynamic counselling or psychotherapy. The programme has been specifically designed as a progression route for students who wish to study one of Birkbeck's clinical Master's programmes in counselling and psychotherapy.
The course will also be of interest to those who wish to study the psychodynamic method and its application to group processes, especially as a way of understanding human experience and behaviour in more depth. You will gain a deep understanding of the (unconscious) dynamics that occur in groups and organisations through participation in an experiential group, which is an unstructured group that studies its own processes. Being a member of the experiential group will develop your capacity for self-awareness and emotional sensibility, key attributes necessary for psychodynamic practice.

Course modules

The programme consist of 2 core modules, each running for 15 weeks.
Core modules:
Clinical Issues and Group Processes;
Psychodynamic Method and Group Processes

Assessment methods

There are 2 main methods of assessment: academic essays; and pieces of self-reflective writing, which articulate your experience of being part of the experiential group.